Chapter 898 — Galloping Eighty Thousand Li
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 5
Why do you perform such grand courtesies before me again? You keep such rules before your master, but before me there are no such rules. " She looked at Shen Mu, showed surprise, and said with a smile, "Celestial Venerable Mu? How is it that you two are walking together?
Last time I heard you say you had come off the worse at his hands and meant to settle the score. " Shen Mu bowed in greeting.
"Shen Mu pays his respects to Her Ladyship Mother Earth.
" The new Mother Earth smiled. "I dare not accept it. You are the Celestial Venerable Mu, of exceedingly high seniority; there is no need for such ceremony.
You made a fool of my husband, giving his blessing to a black wild boar; he was beside himself with rage and cursed you for a long while. " She could not help laughing aloud, then caught sight of Yan Qiling still kneeling and said, "Little Swallow, get up at once.
With the Celestial Venerable Mu here, anyone would think from such solemnity that I have been mistreating you. " Yan Qiling kept her head lowered, holding up in both hands the mirror bestowed by the Heavenly Emperor, and said, "My master has already returned to the Heavenly Court.
He said to give this treasure to Master's Wife.
" "He has gone back? " The new Mother Earth took the mirror and said with a smile, "Did the Celestial Venerable Mu remake his souls for him?
It seems the grudge between the Celestial Venerable Mu and my husband has been dissolved.
That is very good. .
.
" Her gaze fell upon the mirror and could not be moved away again.
Yan Qiling threw herself to the ground, weeping bitterly, tears pouring down like rain: "My master told me to deliver the mirror to Master's Wife. I knew what would happen when Master's Wife looked into the mirror, and still I did it!
I beg Master's Wife to put me to death—" The new Mother Earth raised her head; her eyes were blank, and the light in them slowly faded.
"This is not your fault, Little Swallow, not your fault.
.
.
" She raised a hand and gently stroked Yan Qiling's head, and her palm turned, little by little, into pale smoke.
Softly she said, "You cannot be blamed; you too had no choice. " She turned her head to look at Shen Mu and gave him a lovely smile.
"Celestial Venerable Mu, take good care of her.
.
.
" Her body crumbled away, turning into wisps of pale smoke that were devoured by the mirror.
The mirror clanged to the ground, rolled around twice, and stopped at Shen Mu's feet.
Shen Mu picked it up.
Within the mirror was a Yuan Tree, lush and verdant. This Yuan Tree was the true body of the new Mother Earth, and the true form of Mother Earth as well.
In the last years of the Supreme Emperors, the Heaven Alliance uprooted Mother Earth and carried the Yuan Tree to the Heavenly Court. The Heavenly Emperor used the Yuan Tree to cultivate another living being; that being was the new Mother Earth, and he took her as his wife.
If the Heavenly Emperor could cultivate the new Mother Earth, he could naturally destroy her as well.
And now the new Mother Earth's soul had scattered, and the Yuan Tree had returned.
"Rest easy. " Shen Mu murmured, "Rest easy.
I cannot promise you anything else, but I can promise that I will do my utmost to look after her. " Yan Qiling was still prostrate on the ground, sobbing bitterly.
Shen Mu helped her up and said, "I have proper business to attend to.
Will you come with me?
" Yan Qiling did not rise.
Shen Mu walked out; time was pressing, and he had none to waste.
He left the traveling palace and climbed onto Yan'er's back, about to depart, when he saw Yan Qiling coming. The woman had recovered her usual fortitude, and she said, "I will go with you.
" Shen Mu nodded slightly. "I need a flat expanse of land, so that it will be easier to cast my arts, and easier for Mother Earth to come from beneath the earth. " "I know such a place.
" No trace of grief showed on Yan Qiling's face. "It is the silted plain of the Heavenly River.